Facebook Set To Launch Budget Oculus Wireless VR Headset In 2018

Earlier this week, Facebook made a huge step forward in making virtual reality headsets more adorable for the enthusiast community. For the rest of the summer, the Oculus Rift and Touch bundle will cost just $399, which is a $200 discount from the usual price.

However, according to a new report, Oculus is looking to drive the price down even further in the future and provide a “cord-free” VR experience. Oculus is looking to bridge the gap between cord-free headsets that rely on your smartphone to power the VR experience (a la Samsung Gear VR) and more powerful corded systems like the Rift and HTC Vive, which offer a vastly superior level of immersion.

This new wireless headset will reportedly be priced at just $200 and is being developed under the codename “Pacific”. The wireless headset is said to be designed with gaming, video and social media interactions in mind. However, it remains to be seen how the wireless nature of the headset along with power constraints will affect its performance when compared to the original Rift, which plugs into a PC via a combination of HDMI and USB cords.

With regards to design, Pacific is said to closely resemble its Rift forebear, but will actually be lighter than the existing Gear VR.

“We don’t have a product to unveil at this time, however we can confirm that we’re making several significant technology investments in the standalone VR category,” said an Oculus spokesperson in an emailed statement. “This is in addition to our commitment to high-end VR products like Oculus Rift and mobile phone products like Gear VR.”

The $200 price point will no doubt go a long way to making VR more appealing to the mainstream public, and should help light a fire under developers to create awesome experience that leverage the technology.